Car-coupling.



H. G. DODDS.

GAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1913.

1,090,839, Patented Mar. 24, 191 L 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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H. G. DODDS.

(JAR COUPLING.

, APPLICATION FILED MAY s, 1913.

Patented Max:2 1, 1914,

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HARRY G. DODDS, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA.

CAR-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 24, 1914.

Application filed May 6, 1913. Serial No. 765,968.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY G. Donns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mobile, in the county of Mobile and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-C0uplers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to car couplers, and the primary object thereof is to provide a device of this character which may be operated without requiring an attendant to go between the car couplers of approaching trains.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coupler of the vertical plane type in which the knuckle is adapted to be automatically thrown open after the same has been released from the locking device.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a coupler which is extremely simple in construction and arrangement, comparatively chea to manufacture and install, and highly efiicient and dependable.

To the accomplishment of the recited ob jects and others coordinate therewith, the preferred embodiment of my invention resides in that construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and embraced within the scope of the appended claims.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a plan View of the coupler embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the coupler. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the coupler with the knuckle removed. Fig. 4 is a central transverse sectional view with the knuckle shown in operative and inoperative positions. Fig. 5 is a detail end elevation of the knuckle. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the locking device and operating pin, and Fig. 7 is a detail view of the operating lever.

In said drawings the numeral 1 designates the drawhead of my improved coupler, the same being provided at its mouth with a recess as 2, in which the tail 3 of the knuckle 4, which is pivoted at 5 is designed to move. Toward the rear of the recess 2 is arranged the locking device which comprises a pair of detents 6 and 7 disposed in a plane at right angles to said recess and pivoted at their outer extremities to the drawhead by means of the pintles 8 and 9. The adjacent ends of the detents 6 and 7 are provided with a plurality of intermeshing teeth 10 which are disposed in the direction of the length of the devices and otherwise arranged to permit a relative oscillating movement in the triangular recess 11 located just in the rear of the locking device. At the upper end of the detent 6 I preferably arrange a spring, as 12, about the pintle 8 with one of its extremities engaging the rear side of the detent and the other extremity contacting with the inner wall of the recess 11. It will appear obvious by reason of the fact that the detents are connected by the teeth 10 for simultaneous movement that the spring 12 will insure the proper position of the said detent. The other detent.7 has a square opening as 13 for cocperation with the correspondingly shaped portion 14 of the pintle 9, as best exhibited in Fig. 6 of the drawing. Immediately adjacent the opposite terminals of the squared portion 14 of the pintle I preferably rabbet the metal so as to form trunnions 15 which rest in suitable bearings upon opposite sides of the recess 11 in the drawhead, as clearly illustrated in dotted lines of Fig. 4. The outer extremity of the pintle 9 is fashioned into an eye 16, and in conjunction with this eye I employ an operating lever 17, which is shown upon a small scale in Fig. 7 This lever extends between the cars to a point where it may be readily grasped from the exterior.

As will be seen upon inspection of Fig. 4, the tail 3 of the knuckle is provided with a right angularly disposed lateral projection 18 normally lying within the opening 19 of the drawhead and cooperating with a spring 20 which is coiled about the upper extremities of a vertical pin 21 with its free extremities 22 engaging the wall of the recess 2 (see Fig. 3 of the drawing). The end proper of the tail of the knuckle contacts with the side edges of the teeth 10 of the detents, and the knuckle manifestly occupies a position similar to that shown in full lines in Fig. 4. Now when it is desired to operate the knuckle, the lever 17 is grasped by the attendant and given approximately a quarter of a turn, this movement being transmitted through the pintle 9 to the lower detent 7 which in turn causes its companion detent 6 to be moved rearwardly in the recess 11. A soon as the detents have been moved a distance suiiicient to clear the end of the tail of the knuckle, the spring 20 constrains the tail outwardly so that the latter assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Then the detents resume their normal positions. Now upon the return of the knuckle its tail 3 will engage the front sides of the teeth of the detents and force the latter rearwardly against the ac- 5 tion of the spring 12 until the tail has passed clearly over the detents, whereupon the resiliency of the spring will again be brought into play to return the said detents to vertical positions.

It should be understood that in its broader aspect the invention comprehends the employment not only of the various means described, but of equivalent means for per forming the recited functions. IVhile the 15 arrangement shown is thought at the presof oppositely disposed elements, and means for operating said elements.

2. In a car coupler, the combination with the drawhead and a pivoted knuckle, of a locking detent ar anged in the path of movement of the knuckle and comprising a pair of elements, one of said elements being pivoted at the top of the coupler and depending therefrom, while the other element is pivoted at the bottom of the coupler and extend- 5 ing vertically therefrom, both of said elements having interengaging terminals, and means for operating said elements.

3. In a car coupler, the combination With the drawhead and a knuckle, of a locking detent arranged in the path of movement of the knuckle and comprising a pair of opposed intermeshing elements, said elements being adapted to move rearwardly to permit the passage ofrsaid knuckle, and means for operating said elements.

In a car coupler, the combination with the drawhead and a knuckle, of a locking detent arranged in the path of movement of the knuckle and comprising a pair of elements, said elements being pivoted at opposite sides of the coupler and extending toward each other in opposite direction, said elements further being provided with interengaging terminals, and means for operating said elements.

In a car coupler, the combination with a drawhead and a pivoted knuckle, of a locking detent arranged in the path of movement of the said knuckle and comprising a pair of separable elements, said elements being provided with interengaging projections, a spring cooperating with one of the elements, and operating means attached to the other of said elements;

6. In a car coupler, the combination with the draw head and apivoted knuckle,.of a locking detent arranged in the path of movement of the knuckle and comprising opposed interlockingelements, and means for operating said elements. 7

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY G. DODDS.

Witnesses:

C. J. Tommy, CLARA M. SToKEs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, I). C. 

